Youth Ministry

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Faith Formation Classes Suspended until further notice

As of Thursday, Mar. 12, 2020, following the decision of the Archbishop of Seattle on Mar. 11 to suspend public Masses in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, St. Thomas Aquinas has suspended parish faith formation classes until further notice.

During this period, as mentioned by Fr. Raja in his letter linked to this website's homepage, the parish is eager to continue to support inividuals and families in their prayer life, their lenten experience, their sacramental preparation, and their ongoing formation as missionary disciples. Accordingly, a number of resources will be shared via this website for your consideration. I'm sure you have your own favorite devotionals and resources (whether books, blogs, radio, TV, or other online content) and you are encouraged to use them and share them with family, friends, and classmates.

While in-person classes are suspended, we will continue to engage with three groups preparing to receive sacraments later this spring. These groups will continue any remaining lessons via self-study with parents of books and related videos as directed by their catechists.

As of May 5, 2020, all public parish events are suspended or cancelled through at least May 31, 2020. At St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, this impacts the following sacramental preparation efforts:

RCIA: we have three children preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist but these Sacraments of Initiation will not be celebrated at the Easter Vigil this year (previously scheduled for Apr. 11). These will be deferred to a later date and a new date cannot be determined at this time. The Archbishop will designate a date for the Sacraments of Initiation in the Archdiocese of Seattle as soon as it is possible to do so. In this way, we can celebrate these important rites together.

Confirmation: we have 35 youth preparing for Confirmation. The original date of Apr. 28 at St. Thomas needed to be rescheduled because the suspension on public Masses was extended, initially through May 4, and then through May 31. Accordingly, the Confirmation Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church has been rescheduled to 6pm on Monday, Sep. 21, 2020.

First Eucharist: we have 21 children preparing for their First Holy Communion but the original date of May 2 at St. Thomas now needs to be rescheduled because the suspension on public Masses has been extended through May 31. On Apr. 6, Gov. Inslee announced that all public schools will remain closed through the end of the school year (typically mid-June). As a result, it is now unlikely that public Masses will be authorized to resume before that time. A new date for our rescheduled FHC Mass (as well as the retreat and rehearsal) will be set soon after we receive authorization to resume public Masses.

Recommended online resources

High School Youth Faith Formation Opportunities

- High School Faith Formation: Sundays, 9:45 - 10:45am beginning Sep. 29. Meet in the Youth Room in the parish office basement. Teens will be placed in a small discipleship group with their peers.

- High School Confirmation: Sundays, 9:45am - 10:45am. This is our immediate preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation celebrated each Spring. After establishing the candidate's readiness and desire for the sacrament, Sunday morning classes begin September 29 and continue through March 2020. A Confirmation Mass will be celebrated in April or May, 2020, depending on the Archbishop's schedule. Includes weekend retreat Nov. 8-10, 2019. Click here to visit the Confirmation page on this website for additional details. For 2019-2020, candidates are to be high school students in 9th Grade or above who meets the proximal year requirements as outlined in this year's Confirmation Orientation Packet.

Please contact Ted Meany if you have any questions (ted@stthomascamas.org; 360-834-2126, ext. 215).

Faith formation at St. Thomas Aquinas parish offers opportunities for teens to complement what they are learning about the Catholic Faith from their parents who are the primary educators of their children. The lessons offered through the parish Sunday School supplement the family's ongoing efforts to introduce youth to the Good News of what God has done for them in Jesus Christ and how they are called to be formed as his disciples, eventually to be sent as missionaries to share this message with others.

Since all parish efforts at youth faith formation support the ongoing formation within each family as a whole, it is necessary that parents (or legal guardians) participate in faith formation as well. Special Parent faith formation (or "Parent FF" or "PFF") sessions will be offered each month as indicated on the below calendar. Parent FF sessions will be held in the parish hall at the same time as the youth classes. At least one parent from each family needs to attend each of the monthly Parent FF sessions. Additional adult faith formation sessions will be offered on most of the other Sunday mornings and all parents are encouraged to participate.

FF Calendar Suspended as of Mar. 12, 2020

Youth Confirmation

Please click here to visit the Confirmation page on this website for all the details concerning sacramental preparation for youth confirmation:

Veritas, Latin for “Truth,” is the best word to describe the spirit and mission of St. Thomas Aquinas, the inspiration and patron for our group. We seek to know the Truth, who is Jesus Christ, so that we can then share Him with others! Centered on the Liturgical Life of the Church, we seek to grow in faith that bears fruit in service.